Knitting-machine.



No. s3s,|a7. I Patented Oct. 3|, I899. M. SALDIN;

KNITTING MACHINE.

{Application filed Jam 16, 1899.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Shoot I.

W/TNESSES /N VENTOR A TTOHNEIS,

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No. 636,|87. Patented Oct. 3|, I899. M. SALDIN.

KNITTING MACHINE.

. (Application filed fan. 18, 1899.) (No Modl.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES I //v VENTOR W. W

& BY

-2 Q flaw- W I ATTORNEYS.

NO- 636,187. Patented Oct. 3|, I899. M. SALDIN.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Ian. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /NVENT0/7 A TTORNE rs.

No. 636,l87.

Patented Oct. 3|, I899. M. SALDIN.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 16,1899. (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W/T/VESSES: Q. 7

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

NI. SALIJIN.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 16, 1899.)

5 Shepts-Sheet 5,

(No Model.)

/A/ VENTOR A TTOHNEYS.

WITNESSES N ITED STATES 1 ATENT Erich...

MAX SALDIN, OF MANCHESTER, NEw HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND HENRY REIOHENBAOH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KNITTING- SPECJ IFICATI OF' forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,187, datedOctober 31 1899, Application filed January 16; 1899. Serial No. 702,331. (No model.)

To a ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX SALDIN, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and Improved Knitting-Machinepf which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The invention relates to knitting-machines of the Lamb type, having two straight rows of needles arranged on opposite sides of the machine and between which rows of needles the work passes.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improvedknitting-machine more especially designedfor knitting mittens, sweaters, gloves, and other articles in such a manner that either a single tubular portion of the article can be knitted or separate tubular parts at the same time. mitten the wrist portion can be first knitted and then thethumband finger portions, simul-.

taneously and properly spaced, or in the case of a sweater the body portion can be knitted up to the sleeves, then simultaneously the two sleeves, and finally the remaining body por- 23 tion to complete the garment.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. tis an enlarged transverse section of the same on the line at 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged trans- 4o verse section of the shifter for the yarn-carrier. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the yarn-carriers and the carriershifter. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same on the line 7 7 in Fig. 6. Fig.8 is asectional plan view of the same on the line 8 8 in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same on the line 9 9 in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the cam-throw-out mechanism for one yarn-carrier. Fig. 11 is an end view of the same with parts in section. Fig.

12 is a plan view of the improvement with de- For instance, in a tails omitted and with the operating parts in a different position from that shown in Fig.

2. Fig. 13 is a like view of the same with the working parts in anotherposition. Fig. 14 is a similar view of the same with the parts in a still different position; and Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view of the fabric, showing the two tubular parts knitted simultaneously.

The improved knitting-machine is mounted on a suitably-constructed frame A, on which is mounted to reciprocate a carriage B, connected by a pitman O with a crank-arm D, adapted to be turned by hand; but in the case of a power-machine the pitman is connected with a crank-disk secured on a shaft driven by other machinery to impart a reciprocating motion to the carriage B on the frame A.

On the frame A are mounted the needleplates E E, inclined toward each other, as illustrated in the drawings, and provided with suitable guideways for the two rows of needles F F, respectively, to which a plurality of yarns or threads are passed from the longitudinally-slidable yarn-carriers G G, between which oscillates a return-shifter H for movingthe yarn-carrier outward, as hereinafter more fully described. The return-shifter I-I occupies the place of the usual oscillating yarn-carrier of the Lamb knitting-machine, it being understood that the said shifter oscillates between the guide-arms I I of the carriage and is adapted to alternately engage the yarn-carrier and push the same outward, as hereinafter more fully described. The yarns or threads J J pass to the carriers G G, respectively, from suitable overhead tension devices J J as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The carriers G and G have apertures disposed in a vertical direction for the passage 0 of the yarns or threads J J, and said carriers are mounted on the inner ends of rods G G respectively, fitted to slide longitudinally in bearings A, carried by the main frame A. The outer ends of the rods G G are adapted 5 to be engaged by arms K K, respectively, secured on shafts K K respectively, mounted to rock in suitable bearings B, carried by the carriage B. Each of the arms K K is pressed on by the free end of a spring K and a stop [00 K on the corresponding rod serves to limit the rocking motion of the rod and its arm in a downward direction, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 11, the stop I being arranged to abut against the earriage B when in a lowermost position. (See Fig. 11.) In this position the free ends of the arms K K are in alinement with the carrierrods G G so that when the carriage B moves from the left to the right then the arm K comes in contact with the rod G and pushes the same to the right, and when the carriage moves from the right to the left then the other arm K comes in contact with the rod G to carry said rod and its carrier G in the same direct-ion.

In order to disengage the arms K K from the carrier-rods G G whenever it is desired to stop the carrier G or G at any desired point between the ends of the rows of needles, I provide the shafts K and K with arms K and K respectively, adapted to engage V- shaped cams L L, respectively, of which the cam L is fixed on the main frame A and the cam L is mounted to slide transversely thereon to move the cam L out of reach of the arm K whenever it is desired to give full travel to the carrier G throughout the length of the rows of needles. For this purpose the cam L is provided with a rack L (see Figs. 10 and 11,) in mesh with a gear-wheel L mounted to turn on the frame A, and provided with a handle or knob L under the control of the operator, to shift the cam L laterally in or out of the path of the arm K.

The carriers G and G have their lower portions somewhat narrowed to readily enter the shoes H H on the return-shifter H, (see Figs. 6, 8, and 9,) said shifter H being provided with an upwardly-extending shank H mounted to turn in a bearing H (see Fig. 6,) held vertically adjustable in a socket 11 laterally adjustable in an arm H fulcrumed on the carriage B and mounted to swing in a stop-guide H to limit the oscillating movement of said arm, and consequently that of the shifter H, the latter, however, being free to turn in its bearing H to insure at all times a proper entrance of the carriers G G into the shoes H H The operation is as follows: )Vhen it is desired to knit two tubular fabrics J J slightly spaced apart, as indicated in Fig. 15, then the several parts of the machine are arranged as illustrated in the drawings, so that when a reciprocating motion is given to the carriage the carriers G G come alternately to a stop near the middle of the length of the rows of needles, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 14:, it being understood that during the movement of the carriage B to the left the carrier G is pushed by its arm K to nearly a middle position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 12, and when the carrier reaches this point the arm K moves over the cam L, so as to impart a turning motion to the shaft K to swing the arm K outward and out of engagement with the end of the rod G and allow the arm K to rest and glide over the top of the rod G without, however, moving the latter, and at in Fig. 13then the arm H and the carrier G, with the rod G remain stationary for the time being, so that the arm H moves to the other side in its stop-guide H and then the arm K moves in engagement with the outer end of the rod G so that upon a further movement of the carriage B in the direction indicated the rod G and the carrier G are moved inward to knit one side of the tubular portion J until the arm K movesin engagement with the cam L, so that the arm K is thrown out of engagement with the rod G and the latter, with the carrier G, comes to a standstill. At this time the return-shifter H engages with its shoe H the carrier G, which remained stationary during the previous movement of the carriage, and now said carrier G is moved along by the shifter H and with the carriage B, so that one side of the other tubular portion J is knitted. During this movement of the carriage B the arm K drops off the end of the rod G previously to the carriage G being engaged by the shifter H and is moved a distance from the end of the rod G as indicated in Figs. 13 and 14:. W'hen the carriage B now moves on the next stroke from the right to the left, the-rod G the carrier G, and the return-shifter H remain stationary until the arm 11 has engaged the other side of its stop-guide H and the arm K has moved in engagement with the outer end of the rod G B to the left the arm K pushes the rod G and the carrier G to the left to knit with the corresponding row of needles the other side of the tubular fabric J until the carrier G comes to a standstill, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12, and the shifter II now engages with its shoe H the carrier G to move the latter outward and knit the other side of the tubular fabric J with the corresponding row of needles. It is understood that the rows of needles operate in conjunction with the carriers G G, so as to knit separate tubular fabrics J J in the manner described, and as the carriers G G come to a standstill between the rows of needles at or near the middle thereof it is evident that complete separate and independent tubular fabrics are produced, one of which may form the thumb for a mitten and the other the finger portion, or the two tubular fabrics may be the arms of a sweater.

It is understood that the tubular fabrics J 4 and J maybe made of different lengths, and for this purpose the arms K and K are adjustable on the shafts K K to bring the said arms sooner or later in engagement with their cams L L to stop the carriers G G at the de- On a further movement of the carriage sired point, which corresponds to the length of the tubular fabric.

In order to knit the wrist portion of a mitten or the body portion of asweater, it is necessary to throw one carrier out, and for this purpose the carrier G is left in an outermost position, the arm K being turned by the operator into a vertical position, the spring K holding the arm in this position, so that the arm K remains out of engagement with the cam L, and the arm K is completely out of the path of the rod G so that the latter is not shifted inwardly by the arm K and is consequently not at all aifected by the reciprocating movement of the carriage. The cam L is now shifted laterally, so as to be completely out of engagement with the armK and consequently the arm K moves in engagement with the rod G2 during the reciprocation of the carriage B from the left to the right and remains in engagement with the rod during the entire stroke, so that thecarrier G knits one side of the tubular fabric with the corresponding row of needles. The return movement of the carrier G is made by the shifter H, which remains in engagement with the carrier during the return stroke, as well as during the next following stroke from the left to the right. Thus it will be seen that the body portion of the fabric can be woven with one carrier and wit-h one thread and two rows of needles, and when it is desired to change off to knit the thumb and finger portions or arms for a sweater then the arm K is swung back to its former position and the cam L is moved outward to again actuate the arm K', as previously explained, so that two tubular portions are knitted integrally with the body portion previously produced by the single thread J, the carrier G, and the two rows of needles.

The heel of each arm K and K is arranged as shown in Fig. 11 to permit the free end of the spring K to press the arm for a down- Ward swinging motion, when the arm leaves the corresponding rod G or G on the outward stroke of the carrier to bring the arm again in alinement with the rod. The spring K also serves to hold the arm in a vertical position when it is not desired to actuate the carriers. I

By replacing the shifter H with the usual oscillating carrier and throwing the carriers G G out of action, as explained, the machine can be used as an ordinary knitting-machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Aknitting-machine provided with a plurality of thread or yarn carriers, means for moving the said carriers inward, a shifter arranged between the carriers and adapted to alternately engage the carriers and move the same outward,and an oscillating arm carrying the said shifter, substantially as described.

2. Aknitting-machine provided with a plurality of thread or yarn carriers, means for moving the carriers inward along the rows of needles, means for stopping said carriers alternately between the rows of needles at points between the ends of the said rows of needles, a shifter arranged between the carriers to move the same alternately outward and an oscillating arm carrying the said shifter, substantially as described.

3. A knitting-machine comprising rows of needles, needle-plates, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a plurality of thread or yarn carriers, for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, means carried by the said carriage for moving the carriers alternately inward along the rows of needles during part of the stroke of the carriage, to bring the carriers to a stop atapredetermined point between the ends of the rows of needles, and a return-shifter carried by the carriage and arranged between the carriers, to move the same alternately outward to the ends of the rows of needles, the said return-shifter being mounted to oscillate and having shoes for engaging the carriers, substantially as shown and described.

4:. A knitting-machine comprising rows of needles, needle-plates, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a plurality of thread or yarn carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, means carried by the said carriage for moving the carriers alternately inward along the rows of needles during part of the stroke of the carriage, to bring the carriers to a stop at a predetermined point between the ends of the rows of needles, a return-shifter carried by the carriage and arranged between the carriers, to move the same alternately outward to the ends of the rows of needles, and an oscillating arm on the carriage and carrying the said returneshifter, substantially as shown and described.

5. A knitting-machine comprising rows of needles, needle-plates, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a plurality of thread or yarn carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, means carried by the said carriage for moving the carriers alternately inward along the rows of needles during part of the stroke of the carriage, to bring the carriers to astop at a predetermined point between the ends of the rows of needles, areturn-shifter carried by the carriage and arranged between the carriers, to move the same alternately outward to the ends of the rows of needles, and an oscillating arm on the carriage and carrying the said return-shifter, the latter being mounted to turn in its hearing on the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

6. A knitting-machine provided with aplurality of slidable carriers for feeding sepathe carriers alternately in an inward direction during part of the stroke of the carriage, and devices for automatically rocking said shaft and throwing the arms out of active engagement with the carriers during part of the stroke of the carriage, substantially as shown and described.

7. A knitting-machine provided with a plurality of slidable carriers for feeding separate yarns to the needles, a return-shifterarranged between the carriers and carried by the carriage for moving the carriers alternatelyin an outward direction, arms moving with the carriage and adapted to shift the carriers alternately in an inward direction during part of the stroke of the carriage, and devices for automatically throwing the arms out of active engagement with the carriers during part of the stroke of the carriage, the said devices comprising cams on the machineframe, shafts on the carriage and carrying the said arms,and cam-arms on the said shafts for engaging the said cams, substantially as shown and described.

8. A knitting-machine provided with a plurality of slidable carriers for feeding separate yarns to the needles, a return-shifter arranged between the carriers and carried by the carriage for moving the carriers alternatelyin an outward direction, arms moving with the carriage and adapted to shift the carriers alternately in an inward direction during part of the stroke of the carriage, and

devices for automatically throwing the arms out of active engagement with the carriers during part of the stroke of the carriage, the said devices comprising cams on the machineframe, shafts on the carriage and carrying the said arms, and cam-arms on the said shafts for engaging the said cams, one of the said cams being slidably held on the machine-frame to permit of moving it in and out of the path of the corresponding cam-arm, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a knitting-machine, a thread or yarn carrier mounted to slide on the machineframe, an oscillating shifter adapted to engage and move the carrier, in one direction, and means independent of the said shifter for moving the carrier in the opposite direction, the said shifter having a limited swinging motion, substantially as described.

10. A knittingmachine provided with a thread or yarn carrier, means for moving the carrier in one direction ,a return-shifter adapted to move the carrier in the opposite direction, and an oscillating arm carrying the said shifter, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting-machine, a thread or yarn carrier, means for moving the carrier in one direction a carrier-shifter arranged to engage said carrier and move the same in the opposite direction, and an oscillating arm carrying the said shifter, the said shifter being mounted to turn in its bearings on the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

12. A knitting-machine, comprising rows of needles, needle-plates, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a thread or yarn carrier mounted to slide on the machineframe, means held on the said carriage for moving the carrier in one direction, a shifter carried by the carriage and adapted to move the carrier in the opposite direction, and an arm pivoted on the carriage and supporting the said shifter, the arm having a limited swinging motion, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a knitting-machine, a reciprocating carriage, a thread or yarn carrier,a rod mounted to slide longitudinally and carrying said carrier at one end, a shifter adapted to engage the carrier to move the same in one direction, and means carried by the carriage and arranged to engage the other end of said rod to move the carrierin the opposite direction, substantially as described.

14. A knitting-machine provided with two longitudinally slidable thread carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the neodles, means for moving the said carriers inward along the rows of needles, means for stopping said carriers alternately between the rows of needles at points between the ends of the said rows of needles, and a return-shifter arranged between the carriers and in line therewith, and adapted to engage the carriers and move the same alternately outward the said shifter being provided with oppositelyarranged shoes, adapted to receive the carriers, substantially as described.

15. A knitting-machine provided with two thread-carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, means for moving said carriers inward, means for stopping said carriers alternately between the rows of needles at points between the ends of the said rows of needles, a return-shifter carried by the carriage and arranged between the carriers to move the same alternately outward to the ends of the rows of needles,-and an oscillating arm carrying the said shifter, substantially as shown and described.

16. A knitting-machine provided with two thread or yarn carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, rods fitted to slide in hearings on the main frame and carrying said carriers at their inner ends, a carrier-shifter arranged between the carriers to alternately engage the same and move the carriers outward to the ends of the needlerows, and shafts carried by the carriage and mounted to rock the said shafts being provided with arms adapted to engage the outer ends of the rods carrying the yarn-carriers, to move the carriers alternately inward a desired distance during part of the stroke of the carriage, substantially as shown and described.

17. A knitting-machine provided with two thread or yarn carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, an arm fulcrumed on the carriage, a carrier-shifter carried by the said arm and arranged between the carriers to alternately engage the same and move the carriers outward to the ends of the needle-rows, and devices carried by the carriage for moving the carriers alternately inward a desired distance during part of the stroke of the carriage, substantially as shown and described.

18. A knitting-machine provided with a plurality of thread or yarn carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, rods fitted to slide in bearings on the frame of the machine and carrying said carriers at their inner ends, a reciprocating carriage, a carriershifter carried by the carriage and arranged between the carriers to alternately engage the same and move the carriers outward,shafts carried by the carriage and mounted to rock, the said shafts being provided with arms adapted to engage the outer ends of the rods carrying the thread or yarn carriers to move the carriers inward, and arms carried by said shafts and adapted to engage cams on the frame of the machine, substantially as described.

19. A knitting machine provided with thread or yarn carriers, means for actuating said carriers, and means for stopping them alternately between the rows of needles at points between the ends of the said rows of needles, the said means comprising cams on the machine-frame and arms for engaging said cams, the said arms being connected with the actuating means, one of the said cams being mounted to slide transversely on the machine-frame to move it in and out of active position, the said cam being provided with a rack in mesh with a gear-wheel mounted on the frame of the machine, substantially as shown and described.

20. A knitting-m achine provided with a plurality of carriers for feeding separate threads or yarns to the needles, rods fitted to slide in bearings on the machine-frame and carrying said carriers at their inner ends, a returnshifter arranged between the carriers and carried by the carriage for moving the carriers alternately in an outward direction, shafts carried by the carriage and mounted to rock, arms carried by'said shaft and adapted to engage the outer ends of the rods carrying the carriers to move the same alternately in an inward direction during part of the stroke of the carriage, devices for automatically rocking said shafts to throw the said arms out of active engagement with the carrier-rods during part of the stroke of the carriage, and means for automatically returning said arms to active position on the outward stroke of the carriage, substantially as described.

21. In a knitting-machine, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a thread or yarn carrier, an arm carried by the carriage and adapted to be moved into alinement with the carrier to actuate the same on the movement of the carriage, or to be moved out of active position, and a spring engaging said arm and serving to hold it in both the active and inactive positions, substantially as described.

22. In a knitting-machine, a reciprocating carriage for actuating the needles, a thread or yarn carrier, a rod mounted to slide and carrying said carrier, a shaft carried by the carriage and mounted to rock, an arm on the said shaft and adapted to engage the outer end of the rod carrying the carrier to move the carrier in the inward direction, means for automatically rocking said shaft to move the arm out of action, means for moving the said carrier in the outward direction, and a spring engaging the heel of said arm to bring the arm in alinement with the end of the rod carrying the carrier on the outward stroke of the carriage, substantially as described.

23. In a knitting-machine, rods fitted to slide in bearings on the machine-frame,thread or yarn carriers carried at the inner ends of said rods, and a carrier-shifter arranged between the carriers and provided with shoes, the said carriers having a narrow lower portion adapted to enter the shoes of the shifter, substantially as shown and described.

24:. A knitting-machine provided witha reciprocating carriage, longitudinally-slidable rods, thread or yarn carriers carried by said rods at theirinner ends, an oscillating returnshifter arranged between the carriers, guide arms on the carriage between which the shifter oscillates, the said shifter being adapted to alternately engage the carriers and move the which said shank is mounted to turn, an arm fulcrumed on the carriage, a socket laterally adjustable in said arm and in which the said bearing is vertically adjustable, and a stopguide in which said arm is mounted to swing to limit the oscillating movement of said arm and that of the shifter, substantially as described.

MAX SALDIN.

Witnesses:

A. A. MITCHELL, JOHN ONEILL. 

